Steve Smith, one of the Fab 4 batters, is currently the best batsman in the world. And when it comes to the Test format, he becomes a beast.
Smith’s Test numbers are impressive, with 9320 runs to his name at an average of 58.61. He has scored 32 Test centuries in 102 matches.
Whenever he plays in whites, he makes sure to pile up runs without throwing his wicket. But he has a couple of weaknesses that led to his dismissals. And this is not just limited to the test format.
In this article, let’s delve into Steve Smith’s weaknesses while batting.
Steve Smith vs Left Arm Spinner
Even though Smith plays spin well, he has lost his wicket against left-arm spinners quite a number of times. So far, he has been dismissed 30 times by left-arm spinners, with a dot percentage of 74.
Out of the 30 dismissals, Ravindra Jadeja (8), Rangana Herath (5), and Keshav Maharaj (4) have dismissed him the most. Even part-time spinner Dean Elgar has also taken Smith’s wicket twice.
But why does this happen?
Well, when a left-arm spinner bowls, Smith expects the ball to turn outside. But sometimes, the spinner bowls an arm ball that doesn’t turn much, which either results in LBW or bowled dismissals.
For such deliveries, Smith doesn’t have any answers. And this was visible in the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well.
Also Read: 21+ Types of Bowling in Cricket: A Comprehensive Guide
Steve Smith vs Short Ball
Steve Smith’s other weakness is short balls. When bowlers bowl a good-length or full-length delivery, he plays it quite well. However, short balls trouble him the most.
Australia’s former spinner, Brad Hogg, pointed this out in one of his videos. “Steve Smith walks around; he has both legs planted, and he is a little chest-on. So he can’t duck and leave and has to play the pull shot. You could set the entire tour up by having Steve Smith on the back foot,” Hogg stated.
Conclusion
Steve Smith is a modern-day great batsman. When he walks out to bat, he is determined to score loads of runs and leave his mark on the game.
Smith has some weaknesses, but he will try to overcome them. And that’s a sign of a world-class batter.
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